NBN Supplier Achieves 1.4TB A Second In UK Tests Over Existing Network

A supplier of broadband technology to the National Broadband Network (NBN) has delivered blistering speeds of 1.4 terabits per second in tests in the UK over existing fibre infrastructure similar to what Telstra already has in place in several locations around Australia.

The speed is the equivalent of sending 44 uncompressed HD films in a single second.

Alcatel-Lucent and BT the UK equivalent of Telstra claims that the test proves that greater amounts of data can be sent through the existing broadband structure than previously achieved, allowing internet service providers (ISPs) to increase their capacity without the need for expensive upgrades.

The tests were conducted over 410 kilometres between London's BT tower and Ipswich late last year.

The French Company behind the technology has already provided a report on the tests to NBN executives according to UK sources.

The test made use of existing fibre optic cables already installed in much of the country.

Researchers used a 'flexigrid' infrastructure to create an 'alien super channel', consisting of seven channels each transmitting 200 gigabits per seconds, combining in a total capacity of 1.4 terabits of data per second.

This result in a 42.5 per cent increase in data transmission efficiency compared to the current standard of broadband networks available.

Kevin Drury, optical marketing leader at Alcatel-Lucent, told the BBC the development was similar to increasing the amount of lanes available to traffic during rush hour.